BSN as entry into practice; why we decided against it.
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While hopefully avoiding stoking the ADN - BSN debate unnecessarily, I thought I'd share my experience with my state's consideration of BSN as entry into practice, as well as the BSN-in-10... Read More

I have my BSN. I think it varies across state boards and accreditation requirements but where I live all one needs is college level A&P courses (just 8 hours) and a good ACT score before entry into an ADN program. I personally feel like these schools focus more on building nursing skills while BSN programs focus more on the WHY we use these skills and evidence-based practices. The level of cpritical thinking is different. Both extremely difficult and both produce great nurses. The people in my class all passed NCLEX the first time, but a test has nothing to do with what kind of nurse a person will be. Honestly I would have gotten my ADN first if I would have decided on nursing as a career straight out of high school, but a higher degree is a personal choice. My facility pays just a dollar more per hour for a BSN..that's not much comparing the cost of education. Anyone can go back to school through online programs (my school offers a RN TO MSN PROGRAM no Bachelor's required) and can work while learning. Earning my BSN was expensive. I lived on student loans and a pt on campus job that was more stress than what it was worth. It would have been nice to have a good paying PRN job that actually enhanced my nursing education. There's nothing wrong with either program as entry level. One is not better than the other. They're different paths to the same end. The sky is the limit in this field for anyone starting out. I personally don't feel either superior or inferior to an ADN nurse.

I couldn't have said it better. Too many skilled nurses, and not enough critical thinkers to save lives

I personally feel like these schools focus more on building nursing skills while BSN programs focus more on the WHY we use these skills and evidence-based practices. The level of critical thinking is different.

I've heard this for years from the BSN crowd, and I've gotta say, after teaching in both ADN and BSN programs and working with new grads from both ADN and BSN programs, I just don't see it. The ADN students I've taught, and the new ADN grads I've worked with, were just as good at critical thinking as the BSN students and new grads I've worked with (and, frankly, IMO, neither were as good at critical thinking or clinical skills as your average diploma grad). I think this whole "BSN programs teach superior critical thinking skills" is just something the pro-BSN crowd dreamed up to help strengthen their case that students should go to school longer and pay more money. I'm sure there are superior BSN programs where this is truly the case (just as there are superior ADN programs out there), but I can't help but believe that it's mostly hot air.

I think it's a shame after nurses have had to work so hard to be seen as a valuable member of the healthcare profession instead of "butt wipers" that nurses themselves would say something as ridiculous as, "I don't need a master's degree to wipe butts."That's sad if you think you're a glorified butt wiper. Where do you work that they would even pay an RN to be a butt wiper? They must be hard up.

And where do you work if butt wiping isnt part of the nurses job? Our mother-baby unit is all rns, no aides, so we all wipe butts, every shift. (For the grammar police, i am on an iPad and getting to the extras is a pia, so i dont do it.)

And where do you work if butt wiping isnt part of the nurses job? Our mother-baby unit is all rns, no aides, so we all wipe butts, every shift. (For the grammar police, i am on an iPad and getting to the extras is a pia, so i dont do it.)

ARE YOU KIDDING?? I went into nursing 25 yrs ago for the POWER!! Monday thru Friday, 9 - 5, glam role, looking like a super model all the while.. Only hob-knobbing with the "beautiful people"... You mean there's sick people and dirty butts involved? I'm outta here!

It's funny this comes up because yesterday I witnessed a sad scene while rounding.

RN1 came into the conference room during our multiD rounds to tell RN2 that her patient rang the call bell because she had diarrhea in the bed. RN2 asks RN1 where the CNA is. RN1 says she's busy with another patient. RN2 says the patient will have to wait because she's in rounds, then says to the patient's resident "you have to do something about this, that's twice today".